Differences between stained glass types

Both amateurs and professional artisans end up falling in love with artistic glass. Those who work it gradually explore the enormous expressive possibilities of this material. It seems light but it is inflexible. It is fragile in its essence but can become very dense and heavy.

A very curious thing is to discover that despite its rigid appearance, glass has a chemical composition that resembles more to liquids and it is for this reason that it is considered a non-crystalline solid. There are techniques to mould it with heat and others to work it cold.

The types of glass used in techniques such as leaded stained glass, Tiffany projects or fusing, among others, can be very varied. Here we will talk about their most general classification. Let's start:

Transparent glass

It is the glass through which we see clearly. Each of the main brands of glass has a colourless version or transparent base. Inside the industrial line we can find the most common glass which is float glass.

Clear glass.

Translucent glass

Here we find textured and coloured glass. The textured ones have a rough surface and as an example we can mention the Granite, the Hammered or the Florentine, but there are many more. Then there are those that contain mixtures of colours in their composition and are not perfectly clear. This is the case with Wispy which have a slight reduction in transmitted light.

Coloured glass or stained glass

It is often called cathedral glass because it was originally widely used in the stained glass windows of churches and cathedrals. When the light passes through it, its colour revives and generates new effects.

Streaky stained glass.

Opalescent glass

It has an opal base that provides a more solid colouring. No details can be seen through this glass, but when the light hits it, it infuses a very particular and attractive luminosity. It can contain several colours. It is commonly used to highlight a colour, but also to add a slights variation of colour.

Opalescent glass.

Opaque glass

It is the most saturated opal glass that does not let light through. It is often used to make mosaics or to create negative spaces in designs.

Within each type of glass there are variations in saturation, texture, thickness and other factors. As you will see, the range of glasses is wide, but the choice will depend mainly on the design, the effect to be achieved and the final location of the work. Enter here and check for yourself some examples of different types of glass.

Opaque glass.